A spokesman for the county's volunteer fire companies asked a House committee Wednesday to include Carroll's fire carnival grounds in a bill that would extend drug-free zones to community recreation centers.Eugene Curfman, legislative chairman for the Carroll Volunteer Firemen's Association, requested that the amendment be added to a billsponsored by Delegate Rose Lee Blumenthal, D-Prince George's, that seeks to protect children and senior citizens from drug dealers.Several years ago, the General Assembly passed a law imposing stiffer penalties on those convicted of drug-related offenses within 1,000 feet of public school grounds, called drug-free school zones.

Chincoteague Pony Swim Where: : Assateague/Chincoteague Island When: : Wednesday, between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., depending upon the tide. The exact time will be announced Tuesday. What: : This annual event, dating to 1925, draws a crowd of more than 40,000 who watch as wild ponies swim across the 200-yard channel between Assateague Island and Chincoteague, Va. After a rest, the ponies are herded to the Carnival Grounds, where an auction takes place at 8 a.m. Thursday. Ponies that do not sell will swim back to the island on Friday.

The Memorial Day weekend starts early in Carroll County now that the Gamber & Community Fire Company carnival runs eight days, starting Saturday, and continuing through June 2. Last year, Gamber opened the Saturday before Memorial Day and was the first carnival to be held on a Sunday. The extra two days were so successful that the fire company is doing it again, said Jeannie Green of the carnival committee. The only restriction for holding the carnival on Sunday is that no gambling is allowed, Gamber officials said.

Summer carnivals are the lifeblood of most of Carroll County's volunteer fire departments.Fire companies count heavily on proceeds they raise from the five-day carnivals to fuel their operating budgets through the year and buy such basic items as fire engines and ambulances.County residents count on the fairs to provide them with entertainment and good food during the long, hot summer.At fire department fairs, a visitor can find all kinds of games, rides, food, raffles,beauty pageants and parades.

The summer fire carnival season opens Monday in Union Bridge.The carnivals are the lifeblood of most of Carroll's volunteer fire departments, which count heavily on proceeds they raise from the six-day events to fuel their operating budgets through the year and buy such basic items as fire engines and ambulances.County residents count on the fairs to provide them with entertainment and good food during the long, hot summer.At fire department fairs, a visitor can find all kinds of games, rides, food, raffles, fire queen pageants and parades.

The Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company will have its annual firemen's carnival through Saturday at the carnival grounds, 1341 N. Main St. Rides, games, food and entertainment will be featured.Information: 410-239-4280.Pub Date: 8/13/97

Chincoteague Pony Swim Where: : Assateague/Chincoteague Island When: : Wednesday, between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m., depending upon the tide. The exact time will be announced Tuesday. What: : This annual event, dating to 1925, draws a crowd of more than 40,000 who watch as wild ponies swim across the 200-yard channel between Assateague Island and Chincoteague, Va. After a rest, the ponies are herded to the Carnival Grounds, where an auction takes place at 8 a.m. Thursday. Ponies that do not sell will swim back to the island on Friday.

Arson has been blamed for a fire yesterday that heavily damaged two restroom doors, a portable toilet and a large metal trash container at the New Windsor carnival grounds, authorities said.No one was injured, and damage was estimated at $1,000. Ten volunteer firefighters extinguished the blaze within five minutes, state fire marshals said.The fire was discovered at 5: 06 a.m. when a passer-by on his way to work saw flames coming from the trash container on the carnival grounds at Atlee Avenue and Water Street, fire marshals said.

Memorial Day weekend in Carroll will have some added attractions when the Gamber & Community Fire Company holds its annual carnival Saturday. The Gamber carnival, which normally begins Memorial Day Monday, along with Union Bridge Fire Company's annual event, will offer two extra days of rides, games, music, food and fun. "The past few years, we've lost at least one night each week from rain and that always hurt us," said Clay Myers, Gamber's public information...

The smell of hot dogs and french fries, the bright lights of the Ferris wheel, the laughter of children winning a game, and the blare of live country, bluegrass and rock 'n' roll bands will fill the air tomorrow as the county's volunteer firefighters open their annual summer carnival season. Eleven of the county's 14 volunteer fire companies hold weeklong carnivals that serve as fund-raisers to buy new equipment, such as ambulances and fire engines, or to construct building additions. All carnivals run Monday to Saturday and are open about 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Friday, and until midnight Saturday.

Uniontown United Methodist Church will hold a 9/11 memorial service at 7 p.m. today at the church, 3403 Uniontown Road. The service will include a brief meditation by the Rev. Holly Slaugh, music and prayer. Participants may donate to the Fallen Firefighters Fund. Information: 410-751-8822. Union Bridge theater group presents play, family night The Little Community Theatre will hold its annual OZ family fun night and a one-act comedy, Boris and the Spaceman, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Elmer A. Wolfe Elementary School.

Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company will hold its annual carnival Monday through July 26 on the carnival grounds at Twin Arch Road and Route 27. The carnival will feature food, games, rides, raffles and music starting at 7 p.m. daily. Dinners will be served starting at 5 p.m. daily in the activities building. Discounted ride nights will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The firefighters' parade will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday. A fireworks display will be held July 26. Concerts will be given by Jukebox Heroes on Monday, Mason Dixon Band on Tuesday, the Challengers on Wednesday, Fastest Grass Alive on Thursday, Allen Brown and the Wishing Well on July 25 and Randy Lee Ashcraft and the Saltwater Cowboys on July 26. Hourly raffles for $25 cash will be drawn Monday through Friday, but ticketholders must be present to win. The carnival ends July 26 with a $6,000 cash raffle and a junior fire department raffle for a television with DVD/VCR.

By Jean Marie Beall and Jean Marie Beall,SPECIAL TO THE SUN | August 29, 2002

TANEYTOWN Volunteer Fire Department will hold its 30th annual fall festival from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 7. The festival, which started as a flea market, has been growing steadily, according to Earl Lookingbill. "When it started out, it was just antiques," he said. "Now it is everything." Lookingbill said Taneytown's Fire Department got the idea to hold the fall festival after taking note of the Smallwood Festival. That festival, he said, has grown so much that it has moved to the Reese carnival grounds.

By Donna Koros Stramella and Donna Koros Stramella,SPECIAL TO THE SUN | July 25, 2001

MY HUSBAND AND I affectionately refer to the Big Glen Burnie Carnival, which starts Friday, as the social event of the season. Apparently, plenty of others agree - including some from well beyond the 21060 and 21061 ZIP codes. "The carnival brings back a lot of people who grew up here," said event Chairwoman Barbara Moeller, who has received phone calls from Glen Burnie transplants living as far away as Arizona. She said the former residents had called to confirm this year's carnival dates.

The bright lights, screams of people on fun-filled rides, smells of french fries, candy apples and cotton candy, and the sounds of music will return to Carroll County Monday as the 1994 fire department carnival season opens.The traditional six-day carnivals are major fund-raisers for 11 of the county's 14 volunteer fire companies.Money from rides, food sales, game booths and raffles goes toward the purchase of new equipment, which is not financed by the county.Fun-seekers have a choice of two carnivals next week: Union Bridge, for many years the opening carnival in the county, and Gamber, which began having its event during Memorial Day week about five years ago."

The Francis Scott Key Chapter of the American Iris Society recently awarded a $250 scholarship to Stephen M. Hawkins Jr. of Mount Airy. Hawkins has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while studying horticulture at South Carroll High, lettering in basketball, and participating in Boy Scouts. He received an academic letter for his high school achievements. The son of Donna and Stephen Hawkins, he will attend Montgomery Community College to study horticulture and business while playing basketball for the college.

After searching for 15 years for a location to build a larger firehouse, New Windsor Fire Engine & Hose Company No. 1 has come up with not only a site, but a conceptual drawing for the station. The county commissioners have offered the fire company about 3 acres on High Street, behind the old New Windsor Middle School and adjacent to the fire company's carnival grounds. The commissioners rejected the fire company's request to renovate the school as a firehouse. The large lot would allow the fire department to build a firehouse with five bays, administrative offices, sleeping quarters, and a social hall that would connect to the carnival grounds for activities.